The 5.1 million pounds of thrust that will eventually propel Falcon Heavy off the pad will make it the most powerful rocket in the world, expanding SpaceX's manifest to heavier, more complicated payloads. The moon and Mars are possibilities for the 230-foot-tall vehicle, too.

But hype surrounding the upcoming demonstration flight has been partially energized by a special payload encapsulated in the rocket's protective nose cone, or fairing – Musk's personal 2008 Tesla Roadster, an all-electric sports car, will be hurtled into deep space.

For those watching the premiere flight from the Space Coast, SpaceX's plans to return all three boosters back to Earth should produce impressive visuals. The rocket's two side cores will return to touch down at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Landing Zone 1, while the center core – which burns the longest after liftoff – will target a landing on the company's Of Course I Still Love You drone ship. As usual, the Space Coast can expect sonic booms when the boosters return.

Birds fill the sky as the 27 Merlin engines of the SpaceX Falcon Heavy come to life for the very first time. The test fire of the engines is in preparation for the eventual launch of the vehicle. Mandatory Credit: Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY-USA TODAY NETWORK

Birds fill the sky as the 27 Merlin engines of the SpaceX Falcon Heavy come to life for the very first time. The test fire of the engines is in preparation for the eventual launch of the vehicle. Mandatory Credit: Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY-USA TODAY NETWORK

Birds fill the sky as the 27 Merlin engines of the SpaceX Falcon Heavy come to life for the very first time. The test fire of the engines is in preparation for the eventual launch of the vehicle. Mandatory Credit: Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY-USA TODAY NETWORK

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Falcon Heavy looks like three Falcon 9 cores strapped together, but that's a simplification – Musk said teams had to strengthen the airframe to account for thrust changes, re-examine aerodynamics and account for altered acoustics thanks to three time as many engines as a typical Falcon 9 mission. SpaceX also made extensive modifications to pad 39A.

Contact Emre Kelly at aekelly@floridatoday.com or 321-242-3715. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook at @EmreKelly.